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Samuel Levine, a Northern Westchester resident, is going to have a very happy new year.

Levine, who graduated from North Salem High School, will be marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California on New Year's Day. Levine is one of 400 people in the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band.

A trumpet player, Levine, a freshman at UMass, initially was reluctant to join the band. But he went to an event over the summer and was instantly blown away by the band — which is known as "The Power and Class of New England."

Aside from the Tournament of Roses parade, Levine will also be marching at Disneyland. Flying out to California on Thursday, Levine said he is looking forward to performing.

"It's going to be pretty amazing," Levine said. "It will be nice to get out of the cold."

Levine said he has always enjoyed playing the trumpet- the instrument that has all the melodies. He said enjoys playing jazz music and loves performing during the holidays.

"Holiday music is just so cheerful," Levine said.

Performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people will be exciting and terrifying, Levine said, but he is happy he gets to share the moment with his fellow bandmates.

"These are the first people I met when I got to college and the people I mainly hang around with," Levine said. "I get to enjoy the experience with them, which makes it a lot better. They are my closest friends."